A new report by the National Wildlife Federation says climate change is creating conditions that are leading to an increase of pests like ticks and mosquitoes.

"We have definitely seen an increase in ticks, and we've also seen and increase in mosquitoes abundance and it's associated with both warming and increased precipitation," said Susan Elias with the Maine Medical Center Research Institute's Vector-Borne Laboratory.

Elias said they have been keeping an eye on the tick population in Maine and said over the past 25 years there has been an upward trend.

"It's very concerning, and we're trying to get a handle on ways to manage ticks," said Elias.

Ticks can carry a number of diseases, including Lyme disease, which can cause serious health problems for people.

"They'll get symptoms of joint pain, arthritic-like symptoms. In severe cases they can get Bell's palsy drooping of their face, deviation of their face, deviation of their arms, weakness of their arms," said Dr. Sheila Pinette with the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Pinette said anyone who spends time outdoors should be on the lookout for ticks and take precautions, including using repellant that contains DEET, wearing light-colored clothing so it is easier to see the ticks and to do tick checks.

"Moms and dads need to be extremely proactive. They need to be checking the child before they go out and checking them when they come back in. Checking their hairline, checking behind their ears, checking their groin," said Pinette.

Pinette said the best way to remove a tick is with tweezers, grasping as close to the skin as possible and pulling upward.

After removing the tick, Pinette said to clean the bite area with rubbing alcohol, soap and water or with an iodine scrub.